Just days after securing the 2024-25 CFP National Championship, the Ohio State Buckeyes are losing one of their key coaches. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is departing Columbus to take the same position at Penn State, according to multiple reports, with Yahoo Sports Ross Dellenger first breaking the news.
Knowles will replace Tom Allen, who left Penn State earlier this month to join Dabo Swinney staff at Clemson.
The move to Penn State comes with a lucrative contract for Knowles, reportedly worth over $3 million per year, making him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football. The three-year deal includes performance bonuses that could push the total value into the eight-figure range, according to Sports Illustrated Bryan Fischer. For comparison, Knowles new salary exceeds the annual pay of some Power 5 head coaches.
Under Knowles leadership, Ohio State defense was stellar during the 2024-25 season, ranking first in yards allowed, scoring defense, and red-zone defense. Knowles, who has an extensive coaching career that includes stints at Duke (2010-2017) and Oklahoma State (2018-2021), joins a Penn State team that finished the season with a 13-3 record, though they fell to Notre Dame in the CFP Semifinals.
Knowles departure marks a significant shift within the Big Ten, with the Nittany Lions now bolstering their coaching staff with one of the nation top defensive minds.
